Submit an Academic Petition or Appeal

Petition Letter: To whom it may concern,

I am applying for the Faculty of Arts and Science academic appeal to have CR (credit standing) for PPE200, ECON222, ECON255. First, my psychological change due to technological problems (unstable wifi and VPN) and domestic and family problems that require me to return to my hometown in rural China to take care of my ill grandparents are extenuating circumstances beyond my control negatively impacting my academic performance. Second, I have suffered from my mental illness (depression and anxiety). I have medical documentation in the appeal to prove that my mental illness (depression and anxiety) are extenuating circumstances beyond my control negatively impacting my academic performance. Third, unusual academic events are the consequences of these extenuating circumstances that cause my final grades of these courses to fail to prove my real learning abilities. Therefore it is fair for me to not have final grades. It will be very much appreciated if you can approve my appeal and grant me CR (credit standing) for PPE200, ECON222, ECON255.

First, the wifi and VPN connection in Beijing, China and Yingtan, China was so poor that disrupted my online learning to an unacceptable degree. I had registered Queen's VPN with the technical support people when I was in Canada in 2020 September and enrolled in the paid EVPN subscription. However, the extremely unstable wifi connection and VPN connection in Beijing, China and Yingtan, Jiangxi, China (rural China where I spent most of my 2020 fall term taking care of my grandparents who were diagnosed with hypertension and prostatic cancer). Not only I must take care of my grandparents in rural China who were severely ill but also, I must catch up with my studies in rural China. I had reached for help from the Queen's technology support side and EVPN side, but the VPN had prohibited me from viewing major content on onQ. For instance, I could not view almost all lectures because the video can barely be played which was the cause of falling behind in my studies. I still worked on and submitted every quiz, assignment, midterms, and final exam with what I had learned from poor learning experiences.

Second, I had diagnosed with depression and anxiety in China in 2019 summer. I had fought against my mental illness from that time until now. During the 2020 fall term, my depression and anxiety became extremely severe that I had trouble sleeping, focus and pay attention. As a result, my academic performance during the 2020 fall term in PPE200, ECON222 and ECON255 are poor. For instance, I used to have a very fast heartbeat, short breath, sweaty hands, and headaches when reviewing lectures, working on my assignments, quizzes, midterms and final exam. Both the quality of my work (lower grades) and my time management (late submission) had failed to justify my real learning abilities. My average GPA in the first year was 3.3, therefore a 0.7 GPA in the 2020 fall term was unfair to evaluate my academic performance. Thus I am applying for the Faculty of Arts and Science academic appeal to have CR (credit standing) for PPE200, ECON222, ECON255.

Third, unusual academic events are my evidence for appealing to have CR for ECON222, ECON250 and PPE 200. For ECON 222 in 2020 fall taught by Mr. Huw LIoyd-Ellis: I had emailed Mr. LIoyd-Ellis and sought tech support and nothing can be fixed. Even though the weekly Microsoft Team meetings are posted on onQ, I can barely play any of these videos therefore I fell behind my studies in the course and I had to take a make-up final exam. Thanks, Mr. LIoyd-Ellis for allowing me to take the exam very soon but the final grade of my final exam as well as my previous grades in the course cannot prove my real learning abilities. For ECON 255 in the 2020 fall term taught by Mr. Jan Zabojnik: The first event was that I had emailed Mr. LIoyd-Ellis and sought tech support and nothing can be fixed. Unstable VPN blocked me from viewing the TA midterm prep video. Thanks to Mr. Zabojnik and TA Mr. Lane Weir who had sent me the solution to questions, I still lacked key steps that are required to resolve the questions so I could not explain to TA the questions I did wrong in midterm and how I deserve higher grades without having access to the correct steps can earn me a better grade for the written response. The second event was that my phone and laptop experienced a black screen during the final exam period. I have prepared for the make-up final exam for econ 255 but I could not watch the final tutorial in Microsoft Team and access the practice questions and solutions on onQ due to a poor VPN connection. Therefore I deserve a higher final exam grade for my limited access to resources that are key for me to do well in the exam besides my hard work. I kindly ask Mr. Zabojnik to curve my final exam grade a little bit more so I can pass the course which is necessary for my appeal to have a CR for Econ 255. For PPE 2020 in fall term taught by Mr. Andrew Lister: I quoted from Mr. Lister's email that In your response, you raise two items: access to course resources due to technology issues given that you are in China, and mental health issues. The former could count as an extenuating circumstance meriting academic consideration, the latter a disability meriting accommodation under the procedures set out in your LOA. Due to the described extenuating circumstances, it was unfair for me to take the PPE 200 makeup exam when I have not watched most of the lectures and notes. Therefore I had to submit my answers late because I had to fall behind my studies and struggled to work on the final exam. But Mr. Lister only accepted the first two answers but wrote back immediately to say that he would not accept the third because it was so late. He mentioned that I had provided appropriate accommodation, and was not inclined to change my final course grade. In my opinion, my extenuating circumstances beyond my control were sufficient to prove that my academic performances in the course failed to justify my true learning abilities so I deserve to not have a final grade.

In conclusion, despite the technical difficulties after reaching for help from the technical support side, EVPN side and professor's side, my extra work to take care of my ill grandparents in rural China, my mental illness that led to lower grades and late submission are all extenuating circumstances beyond my control, I continue to dedicate my biggest effort, time, and energy into learning to achieve the highest grade possible. Consequently, my psychological change, domestic and family problems, physical illness and unusual academic events are very compelling and persuasive therefore I kindly ask you to grant me have CR (credit standing) for PPE200, ECON222, ECON255 to truly represent my learning abilities (currents grades not fair and representative). This means a lot to my degree-seeking academic career (Bachelor of Arts Honour with Economics major and Certificate in Business) and my bright future (Master of Business Administration). I will appreciate and thank you for your approval and assistance.